NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
This page covers 25 recalls and 2162 owner complaints for the 2018 Ford F-150.
Complaints about the 2018 F-150 center heavily on the powertrain, with transmission issues making up the largest share of what owners report. The 10-speed automatic draws the most attention: owners frequently describe hard, jarring shifts, unexpected downshifts at highway speed, and rough engagement when moving into reverse. Some report the truck briefly refusing to move when shifted into reverse, requiring a return to park before trying again. Harsh banging or slamming sensations during gear changes come up repeatedly across complaints. Engine-related reports form the second tier, though transmission behavior dominates the picture by a wide margin. Structural complaints round out the top three. The transmission shudder and unpredictable shift behavior patterns appear across a broad range of mileages, with some owners noting these issues surfacing well before 100,000 miles.
2,162
Total Complaints
63
Crash-Related
31
Fire-Related
38
With Injuries
By System
The 2018 Ford F-150 has 25 recalls, with the most serious being multiple fire risks: a seatbelt pretensioner that can ignite nearby carpet and insulation during a crash, and a high-pressure fuel pump that can crack and leak fuel near ignition sources.
Three separate transmission concerns affect this truck. On models with a 10-speed automatic, a missing internal roll pin can cause the vehicle to roll away even with the lever in Park, and a dislodged shift cable clip can show a false Park indication while the transmission is actually in a different gear. On models with a 3.3L engine, 6-speed transmission, and column-mounted shifter, snapping the lever quickly from Park to Drive can briefly engage Reverse before Drive takes hold. On the engine side, certain 3.5L engines can fail due to missing lubrication passages in the cylinder heads, causing the engine to stall while driving. Continental tires on some vehicles can develop sidewall cracks or shed their tread, causing sudden air loss. The engine block heater cable on equipped vehicles can corrode and overheat the wiring, raising a fire risk.
On the chassis and safety side, the brake master cylinder can leak fluid into the brake booster, extending stopping distance. Front seat recliners on some trucks may not hold an occupant properly in a crash, and the tailgate can unlatch while driving and spill cargo onto the road. The structural roof braces on certain F-150 Raptor Super Cab trucks may be missing rivets, reducing rollover protection. LED headlights with
At a glance
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What can fail
Quickly shifting from Park to Drive may cause the instrument cluster to lose gear display and momentarily engage an unintended gear like Reverse or Neutral.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the powertrain control module software at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
When the headlight switch is moved from Autolamps to Headlamps On, the daytime running lamps stay at full brightness instead of dimming to parking lamp level as designed.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the body control module software at no cost to restore proper daytime running lamp dimming.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The brake master cylinder may develop a leak that allows brake fluid to seep from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster.
What the fix does
The brake master cylinder will be replaced. If it is leaking, the brake booster will also be replaced at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The air bag warning label on the dashboard may be missing, which means the vehicle doesn't have the required safety information label.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you the warning label at no cost. Letters were sent December 19, 2024. Call 1-866-436-7332 with questions.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The brake master cylinder may develop a leak that allows brake fluid to seep from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the brake master cylinder. If leaking is confirmed, the brake booster will also be replaced.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The tailgate can unlatch and open while driving, allowing unsecured cargo to fall out of the truck bed onto the road.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you instructions to visit a dealer, who will replace both the left and right tailgate latches.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The tailgate latches on certain 2018 F-150 vehicles can unlatch unexpectedly while the vehicle is being driven.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace both the left and right tailgate latches at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Certain Continental tires may have been over-cured during manufacturing, causing sidewalls to crack or tread and belts to separate. This can lead to sudden air loss and tire failure.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you instructions to visit a dealer, who will inspect your tires and replace them if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Certain Continental tires on these vehicles may have been cured too long during manufacturing, which can affect tire integrity.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the tires and replace them as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
On certain F-150 trucks with LED headlamps and Autolamp control, the daytime running lamps stay bright instead of dimming to parking lamps when you switch from Autolamps to Headlamps On mode.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the body control module at no cost to restore proper lamp dimming when switching modes.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
On trucks with LED headlights and automatic headlights, the daytime running lights don't dim to parking light brightness when you switch from automatic to headlights on. Canadian law requires them to turn off instead.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you instructions to visit a Ford or Lincoln dealer to update your truck's body control module software.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Manual seat recliners may lack sufficient strength to meet Canadian safety standards. In a crash, a weakened seatback might not properly restrain an occupant.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the affected seat recliners and replace the seat structures as needed to restore proper strength and restraint capability.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front or rear seat recliner mechanism may be missing a critical locking pawl, causing the seat back to be loose and weak.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect your seat structure and replace it if needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The engine block heater cable's splice connector may have been damaged during a previous repair, creating a potential failure point.
What the fix does
Dealers will disable the engine block heater. When replacement cables are available, dealers will replace the heater cord at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Water and contaminants can enter the engine block heater cable's splice connector, causing corrosion and damage that may prevent the heater from working properly.
What the fix does
Dealers will disable the block heater cable at no cost. Once parts are available, dealers will replace the engine block heater cable at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
During a crash, the front seat belt pretensioner may deploy and create sparks that ignite carpeting or insulation in the B-pillar area.
What the fix does
Dealers will remove B-pillar insulation and wiring tape, then install heat-resistant tape to prevent ignition.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The high-pressure fuel pump may have been improperly made and could crack at its mounting point, causing fuel or oil to leak. If this leaked fuel contacts an ignition source, it could catch fire.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the high-pressure fuel pump, discharge tube, and mounting bolts.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The high pressure fuel pump assembly has welds that can crack, potentially causing oil or fuel to leak.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump and related parts at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The gear shift cable clip may not be properly seated, causing the transmission to operate in a different gear than what the shift lever shows.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the shift cable locking clip and properly seat it if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A roll pin may be missing from the transmission, which could cause the Park function to stop working.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect your transmission and install the roll pin if it's missing, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
On some vehicles with a 3.3L V6 engine and column-mounted gear shift, quickly moving the shifter from Park to Drive may cause the gear display to disappear briefly and Reverse to engage momentarily before Drive engages, risking unintended movement.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module with updated software to correct the shifter response.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Some 3.5L V6 engines have cylinder heads missing oil holes that lubricate the camshaft bearings. Without proper lubrication, the engine can fail suddenly while driving.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the entire engine.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Some 2018 F-150s with 3.5L engines may have cylinder heads missing lubrication holes for the camshaft bearings, which can cause bearing damage.
What the fix does
The engine will be replaced at a Ford or Lincoln dealer. Ford will arrange transportation if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
When you quickly shift from Park to Drive, the gear indicator may disappear from the dashboard and the vehicle might briefly select Reverse or Neutral instead of Drive before moving forward.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module at no charge to correct the shift behavior.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The structural roof braces lack rivets where they attach to the roof rail, which weakens the roof's structural integrity.
What the fix does
Dealers will install the missing rivets at the roof brace attachment points at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
